Skinning machine



July 26, 1949. DE Mos's SKINNING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3l, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. eonafd DeMOJ BY l A TT RNE Y July 26, 1949. L. DE Moss SKINNING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan?. 31, 1945 INVENTOR.

S 3 M 2 1m d n O Q l Y E N R r r A Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcs smNNlNG MACHINE Leonard De Moss,` Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Swift & Company, Chi

of Illinois cago, lll., 'a corporation Application January 31, 1945, serial No. 575,482

17 claims. (CLN-.21)

This invention relates to an apparatus for detaching and recovering the skin from pork products. More particularly it has to do with the detachment and removal ofthe skin from pork products like ihams, shoulders, smoked bacon.

'In the treatment of pork products like hams, shoulders, and smoked bacon for the removal of its lrind'or skin, as heretofore carried out, an end of the skin i-s lifted by-handv from a warm or chilled pork product, and the end of the detached skin is then inserted in a clamp which draws it through'a knifelike device. By this device the skin is cut from the pork product. In this operation, it so happens `that in many instances patches of skin are left still attached to the pork product, and the portion of the skin that -has been removed carries comparatively little of the brous material, usually embeddedin the fat underneath the skin and adhering thereto, associated therewith. To remove both these patches of skin and the brous material, it is necessary'for an operator to subject the pork product to a trimming or similar operation. Such operation, however, results in also the removal of some of the fat and its associated meat from the pork product.

- It has beenfo'und that by employing an apparatus including a gripping means adapted to positively grip an end of the skin separated from a pork product, means permitting the progressive feeding of the raised endY of said skin to said gripping means, and means for actuating said gripping means it is possible to exert upon the skin being separated a' uniformly constant pulling force in a direction approximately oblique to the progressive feeding movement of said product which is of such'mag'nitude as`to result in the skin together with its adhering fibrous material and associated fat to `be evenly detached in a single operation, whereby several operations and the necessity of cutting away some of the edible portion of the pork product are eliminated with a .considerable saving in processing cost.

A method for accomplishing all of these desirable resultsV is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 575,483, led January 31, 1945,`

entitled Method of Skinning meat.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detaching and Tecovering the skin from pork productsV wheren the skin together with its adhering fibrous material land associated fat is detached in a single pulling operation, y Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detaching and recovering theskin frompork products which results in;

the recovery ofthe detached skin carryingits adhering fibrous material and substantiallyfreef i' of the associated fat.

' is to provide an apparatus for detachingand recovering the skin from pork products in whichv the skin together withits adheringbrous mate-- rial and associated fat is detached from the pork4 product in a single operation and the associated' fat recovered from the detached skin. 1 Other objectsand advantages will be apparent` as theinvention is describedV in greater detail in connection withthe accompanying drawings: wherein: Y- f Figure 1 is a front -elevational view, with parts broken away, of the apparatus for carrying out,l the present invention. Y A f I. Figure 2is a sectional -view taken on lthe line zaagt-Figurer Y' Y Figure3 isan end view'of'the apparatus shown in Figurejl,` taken from the drive mechanism end.-

^ Figure'is an end Aview of only the roll assembly of the apparatus shownin Figure 1, taken from the-endy oppositesthat of the drive mechanism. @rr- .'FigureA 5 is anienlarged endv sectional viewV oionly the -rollassembly illustrating the manner inwhich pork f products are treated thereinin accordance with the apparatus of the -presentf invention. v y Figure 6 is van enlarged end view o1 amodiiication ofthe 'apparatus shown in Figure 1 -showingg ing rolls relative to each other.l `Figure '7 illustrates that the portion ofthe skin detaching roll intermediate the drive ends of is slightlylower than said ends. .Figure 8 --is an enlarged front-elevational viewadditional means for adjusting the skin detach 'of only the guard members embracing theroll..

assembly of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, but;

including as a, modification the yieldable scraping member -arranged in operative relation With'such guard members.

Figure 9 is an enlargedend sectional view of.v4

baconis treated therein.

Referring to. the drawings, the numeral in there-` indicates a frame, Figure l, on which is mounted a means adapted to exert a pulling force, such means as shown in said ligure embodying a pair of corrugated rolls II and I2 rotatably mounted in said frame. Each of rolls II and I2, Figure 7, at each end thereof is provided with a grooved portion indicated by the letterA which constitutes a gear section, both of said grooved portionsA A being slightly higher than the intermediate' portion designated by the letter B. This intermediate portion B of each of the rolls II and I2 produces a greater clearance in this areafoi the assembled'rolls than in the end portions A. The

importance of such clearance Will'be vsubse- 1 quently described. i

Carried by a shaft I1 of the roll II, Figure 1,

adjacent one end thereof, is-.agear I3 which.

meshes with a gear I3a carried by the complemental end of a shaft Illof the roll I2. l The opposite end of the shaft I1 carries a gear I5 which meshes with va gear ld carried by the complemais; end of the Shaft is of the roll li.l Mounted adjacentthe rolls H and i2 are guard members -32 and 33 positioned adjacent and partially sur-V `roundingsaid rolls and mounted 'on the'fra'me `bracket Is lspro'vided with an elongatedslot zt'through-which'extends anend of a `belt 2I Vprovided with a wing mit 22. The extending free-end off the bracket lll is pointed, and is ar- ;ranged in cooperative relation `with a graduated scale. The bracket Igis vfixed to a bearing support la* that is rotatably mounted in 'the frame of themachlne. 'The bearing support' I8' carries the shaft I8 of roll I2, and the "shaft is mountedeccentricaily within the rotatable support 'il'. :An identicalstructureis provided on the other side of the machine'to cooperate' with the other end of shaft I8. By loosening the wing nut 22, and then shifting the bracketY in the desl'red direction; the roll' l2 may be shiited relative 'tether-oli H. Whenshifted to the desired positionfas mdicated by the pointed end of the bracket Non thescale 23, the lWing nut is again tightened.

-By this 4.adjustment1 the 'clearance between the 'intermediate portions of the rollsv H and' 1:2 is increased' er decreased within certain limits.

fWhiie the means adapted to exert a vpulling force:ernltmdying the 'pair of corrugated rolls if and I2 thus described is preferred, it is to be unthat -a 'single knurled roller in associa- -tlon'with La. shoe, may be employed inplaceof such rolls' Hand l2 with goed results. Y

Rotatably mounted inthe Vframe 'I'oand to the ieerof the rolls Il and l2,` Figurebf, are a'pair ofolls vim and 25, eachof said rollsrbeing pro` .vided with serrated peripheral surfaces. Carried ,bye sha-it 26 of the roll 24; Figui-e 1, adjacentv one endtnereoi, is gear 21, which meshes with a gear Near-ren bythe complementalend of a shaft 29 of 13h95 roll 25.

"Althoughthe pair of rolls 24 and 25 and the as# sociated actuating mechanism thus'fdescribedare 'shown asa partei' the apparatus of the present inventionsuoh rollsandfits associated actuating .mechanism maybe omitted from the apparatus roll II, Figures 1 and 3, is a sprocket wheel 34 which is driven by means of a sprocket chain in meshing engagement with a sprocket Wheel 36 carried by a shaft 3l journaled in the frame lil. Journaled on the shaft 31 is a pulley 38 which is driven by a pulley 39 carried by the shaft 40 of a motor 4I by means of a V belt 42.

Journaled on the end of the shaft Il of the roll II linwardly of the sprocketwheel 34 is a sprocket Wheel 43 which cooperates with a chain 44 in meshing engagement with a sprocket wheel 45 carriedby the complemental end of the shaft 2li of the roll 24.

Referring to the modication shown in Figures 8 andi), a yieldable or ilexible scraping member 46 is disposed in operative relation with respect tothe guard members 32 and 33. Such scraping member is detachably secured to a hanger 41 by means 'of a rod 48. The scraping member 46 is maintained at a spaced. distance from the guard membersk s2 and 33and is normally 'urgedoutward therefrom bymeans of. springs 491and350. Depending from the exterior surface .of the lower portion of the' scrapingmember adjacent each of its ends arethreaded `lugsllI and52 for the reception of an end of threaded bolts 53 andz54. The bolts53 andx54 may be soectfasto 4adjust the clearance ybetween thejscraping edge 55 and the guard members 32 vand 33 whenk in full depressed position. .In place of the springs49 and 52 bein-g underneath the scrapngmember 46 they may bezattached -to the top of the scraping meinber c and lto anarm carried by the frame )of the machine, this manner ofthe mounting of the springs likewise maintaining the scraping momber normally'in open position withrespect to the guard members.'

For .the treatment of pork productsrsuch as either hams, shoulders, or smoked bacon inthe apparatus according to the ypaeselit invention, an end. of ytnezskin of the pork product tu be treated 1s raisedby eithercuttingthe edge of the-skin with a hand knife or by means of a band or circular knife device- If desired,-the pork products may be previously chilled or-.cooled to a tempera ture :of betweenfz" .and 142 Fahrenheit.

With the rollsV II and.I I2 adjusted so as toptovide a clearance such as to. prevent 'chewingl up of the detached vskin'rin its passage therebetween, andthe motor 4I actuated to set the apparatus in operation, a ham, shoulder or smoked bacon slab is lplaced iincontact with the guard members 82 and 33, and -While so supported the raised `end of theskinof the ham-,-slnnildei',` or smoked baconslot. `formed .between slab is inserted through the the, guard members. The end thus inserted is next pushed forwardly until it isfgripped .by the corrugated rolls I I and I2. By the rotation of the rolls I I and l2 a continuous and uniformly conb stantpu-lling -force is caused to. beexerted upon the skin while .ingripping relation with said rolls. Asthe detached skin, Figure 5, is being discharged from the rolls I I. and I2 the ham, shoulder, -or smoked bacon `slab.designated by the-letter C, Figure., is caused to be moved upwardlyfandsuch. movement` continued untilall of' thcfskin has been detached from 'the'ham shoulder, or`V smoked bacon slab. This pulling .forceexerted uponzthe skin by therotationof the rollswhile' the ham, shoulder, orsmoked bacon slab is being progressively fed upwardly 'tends .to rotate the `ham, shoulder, or smoked bacon'slab, thereby creating a pulling force in a direction approximately oblique to the progressive feeding movement. of

the-pork product being skinned. Suchpulling'h forcerresults j in the 1 detachment of the skin together with its adhering fibrous material which is' embedded in the fat directly beneath the skin. Thedetached skin upon being discharged from the rolls Il and l2 Vis then fed into Arolls 24 andy 25, guard fingers 3|] being provided to prevent; skins from remaining on rolls H and I2 as theyv move forward. Theflngers l30 extendV into grooves .3| of rolls Il; and l2 as shown in Figures 1 and-v 5,.- During the passage of the skin through such rolls, kthe fat associated with the underlying fibrous material is separated therefrom. Thus,

this separation of the fat from the detached skin maylbe termed a defatting step, or operation. After passagethrough the rolls 24 and 25, the

defatted skin is discharged therefrom and col-,z

lected for subsequent disposition. As hereinabove pointed out, this defatting operation of the detached skin may, if desired, be omitted by merely removing the rolls 24 and 25 and its associated actuating mechanism from the apparatus.

Upon completion of the detachment of skin fromthe ham or shoulder, the ham or shoulder is'removed from the guard members 32 and 33,; another ham or shoulder with an end of the skin f raised is then placed upon the guard members,

and the operation previously described is, re-

Ofttimes, itmay be desirable to employ the.

modification of the` apparatus shown in Figures 8 and 9 for the. treatment of smoked bacon vin place. of the apparatus hereinabove described. VIn this. .case the shoulder end or ham end of a slab ofbaconA is inserted into a band or circular knifev tion, and the motor actuated to set the apparatus in operation, a slab of bacon designated by the letter D, Figure 9, is placed in contact with the guard ymember 33, and while. so'supported fthe raised .end '56 of the skin is advanced to a point such that it will contact with the top portion of the 'guard memberl 33.. At this pointfthe slab of. bacon bears against the scraping member and the raised end 5ftv of the skin is being inserted through the slot formed between the guard members. The slab of bacon is next pushed forwardlyuntil the end of the detached skin is gripped bythe corrugated rolls Il and I2. As the detached skin is being. moved into gripping-relation withv the rollsv H and I2 the slab-of bacon bears against the scraping member and moves it to fully depressed position. By the rotation of' therolls Il and l2 a continuousA and uniformly' constantpulling force is caused `to be'exerted" upon the skin while in gripping relation with said f rolls, and simultaneously the scraping edge -55- of the `scraping member acting in conjunction' with the guardmember 33 permits the skin, to-

gether with its adhering fibrous material and carrying onlyfthe relatively small amount of fat in which such fibrous material is embedded,to"pass through the slot between theguard members 32V andi33.V As the detached skin is being discharged from the rolls ll and l2, the bacon slab designated by the letter D is caused to be `moved lupvvardlyv and such movement continued until all of the skin has been detached from the'baconslab. This pulling forceeXerted upon -the skinfbyrth'e rotation:- of. therolls while it is beingfed progressively upwardly tends to rotate the slab, .thereby creating a pulling force in a direction approxi-V mately oblique to the progressive feeding movement lof, the Ybacon slab being skinned.- Such pulling Vforce results lin the detachment of the skin together with its adhering fibrous material which is embedded in the fat directly beneath the skin.

The detached skin may, if desired, be then subjected to the defatting step or operation previously described.

.Although the invention has connection with the A,detachment of the skin from ham, shoulder or smoked bacon, it is to be understood that it is equally effective for removing the skin yfrom other pork products like bellies, neck fat,and back'fat. y

Obviously, :many modifications and variations of the .invention hereinbefore specifically de-4 scribedmay bemade without departing from the scope and spirit thereof, and, therefore, only suchl limitations should be imposed as are indlr cated in the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. A universal machinefor Skinning pork products such as;hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of lskin formed thereon, comprising a driven skin engaging means to pull the skin and its ladhering fibrous plugs off the product,` means to drive said pulling means, a meat supporting means operatively associated with said pulling means and having. anaperture therein, means for relatively fixedly mountingY said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of thepulling means with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine so that'after vthe tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement with the pulling means, the product is drawnacrossthe supporting means as` the skin passes intor the'aperture in the supporting meansl during performance of the Skinning operation.

2.l A universal machine for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a pair of `loosely interfitting gear-shapedrollers to 'engage and pull the skin and its adhering fibrous plugs 01T the product, means to drive said rollers,'a'meat-supporting means operatively associatedwithsaid 'pulling means and lhaving an aperture therein,v means for relatively `flxedly mounting'said' supportingmeans with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pulling means with respect to the -movement ofthe skin through the machine, s o that afterY the 'tab of skin has been fed throughsaid aperture into-engagement with the rollersj' the product is drawn across the supporting means and the skin is turned sharply awayifrom the product as `theskin passes into .the aperture inthe supporting means during per-V formance of the'skinning operation. f

A3. A universal machine ifor Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a Vtabof'skin formed thereon, comifprising a `driven skin-engaging -means to vpullthe skin arid its adhering'brou's plugs off the product, the pulling means being Yarranged to tightly engage"v the skin with a crushing force, means to drivel sai-d' pulling means, a j meat-supporting .means operatively associated with said `pulling means and having an` aperture therein, meansV for relatively "iixedly'rnounting said supporting' means vwith the aperture positioned forwardly ofY the pullingmeans'with respect to the movement f of lthe'skinl throug'hthe -In'achine-'so thatafter' been described in anarco the tab of ski'nhas been fed' throughv said' aperture into engagementwith the pullmgmeans, the product is drawn across the ysupporting means and the skin is turned sharplyaway from the product as the' skin passes into the aperture in thesupporting means during performance of the skinning operation, and serrated means to engage the crushed skin to lesh it as it passes from the machine.

4.1i universal machine for ASkinning porkl` products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of skinl formed thereon, comprising a driven skin-engaging means to pull the skin and its' adhering; brous plugs off the product, the pulling means being arranged to' tightly engagethe skin'with a crushing force, means to drive said pulling means, :a meat supporting means operativeiy associated withsaid pulling means-and having an aperture therein.. means'for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with' the aperture. positioned. forwardly of the puiling means with respect to the. movement of the skin through the machine, so that after` the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement Iwith the -pulling means, the product is drawn across ,the'supporting means and the skin is turned vsharply away from the product as the skin passes: Vinto the aperture: in the supporting means during perfomance `of the Skinning operatiomand, a pair of cooperating serrated rollers to engage the crushed itas it passes from the machine.

5. A universal machine forl Skinning pork products such'as hams, bellies, shoulders ann the like having a tab of skin formed thereon, com.- prising a pair. of. loosely intertting gear-shaped rollers to engage and pull the skin audits adhering fibrous plugs 01T the product, said rollers tightly engaging the skin therebetweento crush it, means to drive said rollers, a meat supporting. means operatively associated with said pulling means and having an aperture therein, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned` forwardly of the pulling means withK respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, so that vafter 4the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement Withthe rollers, the product is drawn across the supporting means and the skin is turned sharply away from the product as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting means during performance ofA the skinning operation, and .a pair of cooperatingv serrated rollers to engage the crushed. skin to flesh it as it passes from the machine.

6. A universal machine `for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab: of skin formed thereon, comprisinga. driven skin engaging means to pull the skin and its adhering brous plugs off the product, means -to drive said pulling means, ameatsupporting means .operatively associated with said pulling means and having an aperture therein, the surface of said support being in- Wardly turned toward the pulling means adjacent the aperture, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pullingmeans with respect to the movement of the skin through themachine, so that after the tab of skin has been fed 4through said aperture into engagement with the pulling means, the product is drawn Vagainst the supporting means land the. skin is turned sharply away from the `product as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting skin to flesh 8 means during performanee'of the Skinning operation.-

7. A `universal machine for skinning 'pork productssuch as hams, bellies'shoulders and the like havingv la tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a pair of loosely intertting; gear-shaped rollers to engage and pull the skin and its adheringl fibrous plugs on the product, means to drive said rollers, a pair of meat-supporting members operatively associated with said pulling means, saidmembers being curved to t closely over the' perifery of said rollers, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting members, one of` each being closely adjacent each of the rollers and forwardly of the pulling rollers with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, said members being spaced lapart to provide an aperture forwardly of the line of junction of said interttingrollers, the arrangement being such thatv after the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement with the rollers, the lproduct is drawn against the supportingv means and the skin. is turned sharply away fromv 4the productV as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting means. during per- -formance of the skinning operation.

8. A universal machine for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the. like' having Ia tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a pair of loosely intertting gear-shaped rollers to engage and pull the skin and its adhering, fibrous plugs orf the product, means to drive said rollers, a pair of meat-supporting members operatively associated with said pulling means, said membersbeing curved to fit closely` over the .periiery of said rollers, means for relatively ixedly mounting said supporting members, one of each Vbeing closely adjacent each of the rollers yand forwardly of the pulling rollers with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, said members being spaced apart to provide an aperture forwardly of the line of junctionV of said interfitting rollers, the arrangement being such that after'the tab yof skin has been. fed through said yaperture into engagement with the rollers, the product is drawn against the supportingmeans and the skin is turned sharply away from the'product as the skin passes into the. aperture in the supporting means during performance of the `skinning operation, and a pair of cooperating serrated rollers to engage the crushed skin to ilesh it as it passes from the machine.

' 9. A .universal machine for Skinning and defatting the skin of pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a driven skin engag' ing means to pull the skin and its adhering brous plugs oii the product, means to drive said pulling means, a meat-supporting means operatively associated with said pulling means and having an aperture therein, a scraper Vresiliently mounted on theA supporting means in front of the aperture, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pulling means with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, so that after the tab of skin has been fed through saidaperture into engagement with the pulling means `and with the fat side of the skin in contact with the scraper, the product is drawn across thefsupporting means and the skin is turned sharply away from the product as the skin passes' into the aperture in the supporting means during performance ofthe Skinning operation, and freev varr-ase bellies, shoulders-and the like having a tab of skin formed thereon-comprising. a pair of loosely interfitting gear-shaped rollers to engage and pull the skin and its adhering fibrous plugs off the product, means said pulling means and havingan aperture therein, a scraper resiliently mounted on the supporting means infront of theaperture, means for relatively fixedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly oi the/i..Y

pulling means with respect to the movement of ,Y the skin through the, machine, soV that afterthetab f, of skinhas been fed through said aperture into engagement with the rollers, the product is drawn across the supporting means and the skin is turned sharply away from the produc-t as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting means during performance of the skinning operation, and the free fat on the surface of the skin is removed therefrom by the scraper while the fat adhering to the skin is crushed by the pulling rollers whereby it can be then more easily removed.

11. A universal machine for Skinning and defatting the skin of pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a pair of loosely interfitting gear-shaped rollers to engage and pull the skin and its adhering fibrous plugs off the product, said rollers tightly engaging the skin therebetween to crush it, means to drive said rollers, a meat-supporting means operatively associated with said pulling means and having an aperture therein, a scraper resiliently mounted on the supporting means in iront of the aperture, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pulling means with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, so that after the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement with the rollers, the product is drawn across the supporting means and skin is turned sharply away from the product as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting means during performance of the skinning operation, and a pair of cooperating serrated rollers to engage the crushed skin to flesh it whereby the skin is removed from the cut and is substantially stripped of all fat adhering thereto by the cooperating scraping, crushing, and eshing means.

12. A universal machine for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a pair of loosely interfltting gear-shaped rollers t engage and pull the skin and its adhering brous plugs on the product, said rollers being mounted so that the distance between their centers may be adjusted, means to drive said rollers, a meat-supporting means operatively assoelated with said pulling means and having an aperture therein, means for relatively xedly mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pulling means with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, so that after the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement with the rollers, the product is drawn across the supporting means and the skin is turned sharply away from the product as the skin passes into the to drive said rollers, a meat-p vsupporting means operatively associatedV with aperture VVin the 'supporting means 'during' pei'- -'formance of the Skinning operation.

Y 13. A universal fmachine for 'Skinning and defattinglthe skin o `pork products such as hams,

bellies, shoulders and the like having a tab of I skin iormed thereon,A comprising apair of loosely ..intertting,gear-shaped rollers to engages-and pull the 'skinfandits adhering brous-plugs of! the product, said rollers tightly engaging the skin therebetween to crush it, ,and said'rollers being mounted so'that the .distance between their cen- -1 ytersmay be adjusted to: providethe desired tight skin engagement, means to drive said rollers, a meat-supporting means operatively associated with said pulling 'means and. having an aperture therein, a. scraperY resiliently mounted on the :.,supportingmeans in front of the aperture, means ,,for,irelatively'fxedly .mounting said supporting means with the aperture positioned forwardly of the pulling means with respect to the movement of the skin through the machine, so that after the tab of skin has been fed through said aperture into engagement with the rollers. the product is drawn across the supporting means and the skin is turned sharply away from the product as the skin passes into the aperture in the supporting means during performance of the Skinning operation, and a pair of cooperating serrated rollers to engage the crushed skin to ilesh it whereby the skin is removed from the cut and is substantially stripped of all fat adhering thereto by the cooperating scraping, crushing, and fleshing means.

14. A universal machine for Skinning por-k products such as ham, bellies, shoulders, and the like, having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a driven skin engaging means to pull the skin and its adhering fibrous plugs oi the product, driving means operatively connected to said skin engaging means, meat supporting means 0D- eratively associated with said pulling means and positioned adjacent one side of said pulling means, said supporting means having an aperture therein through which the tab may project from the product to be engaged by said pulling means, and mounting means for said supporting means and said pulling means.

15. A universal machine for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders, and the like, having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a driven skin engaging means to pull the skin and its adhering brous plugs oi the product, said pulling means including a toothed roller and means to hold the skin in engagement with the roller, driving means operatively connected to said skin engaging means, meat supporting means operatively associated with said pulling means and positioned adjacent one side of said pulling means, said supporting means having an aperture therein through which the tab may project from the product to be engaged by said pulling means, and mounting means for said supporting means and said pulling means.

16. A universal machine for Skinning pork products such as hams, bellies, shoulders, and the like, having a tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a driven skin engaging means to pull the skin and its adhering nbrous plugs oil the product, driving means operatively connected to said skin engaging means, meat supporting meansv operatively associated with said pulling means and positioned adjacent one side of said pulling means, said supporting means having an aperture therein through which the tab may project from the product to be engaged by said pulling means,

. t i1 :aperture varying means to Voon-trol lthe scraping action of the edge of the supporting means on the i -skin as the skin is drawn through vthe aperture, l and mounting means for said supporting means andsaid pulling means.

g .17. A universal machine for -skinning pork vproducts such as-hams,1be1lies, shou1ders,and the like, having a. tab of skin formed thereon, comprising a driven ski-n engaging mean's to :pull

the skin and its adhering fibrous plugs 'ofi the product, said pulling means including a toothed roller and means to -hold the skin in engagement with `the roller, kdriving means operatively eo'n- -n'eoted to said skin engaging means, meat supporting means operatively associated with said fpulling Vmeans and positioned Vadjv'a'eent one side ,fof said pulling means, said supporting means k,having an aperture therein through `which the RFRENCES CITED "1 The fol-lowing reierences are of'lreeord'in tine 

